Two men charged in gasoline thefts

Two men arrested in a burglary case in Delaware County are facing additional charges stemming from a series of thefts in which gasoline was drained from vehicles in Westerville.

Two men arrested in a burglary case in Delaware County are facing additional charges stemming from a series of thefts in which gasoline was drained from vehicles in Westerville.

Andrew C. Cline, 19, of Pickerington and Steven J. Prakin, 25, of Lewis Center, are each charged with one felony count of burglary for a June 11 incident, according to Delaware County Municipal Court records.

Westerville detectives interviewed the men after receiving a tip that they were involved in the gasoline thefts, said Lt. Tracy Myers. He said one of the suspects confessed and a search of a car impounded after the burglary turned up cordless drills and gas cans.

Westerville police in May took reports of gasoline thefts from 14 vehicles whose tanks were punctured, seemingly with a drill. The thieves mostly targeted vehicles that were easy to climb under, police said.

Myers said the gasoline-theft cases will be handled by the Delaware County prosecutor's office because the suspects are being held there and some of the thefts occurred in Delaware County.

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